Coil winding machine



Nov. 4, 1947. R. M. CONKLIN COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOA? Nov, 4, 1947. R. M. CONKLIN v I COIL WINDINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1945 EU INVENTOR RM; GONAL/N ATTOPNEV Nov. 4, 1947. CONKLIN con. wmnme MACHINE File d Aug. 22, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet s Mil E1970 I RM. CON/(LIN ,Lu-- Qwu ATTORNEY by pullingPatented Nov. 4, 1947 COIL WINDING MACHINE Robert M. Conklin. WestNewbury, Mass, asslgnor to Western Electric Company,

Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1945,Serial No. 611,934

7 Claims.

This invention relates to coil winding machines, particularly those ofthe toroidal winding type and the primary object of the invention is amachine of this type which is capable of winding coils of very smallsize and weight.

Present standard machines of this general type have winding ringsequipped with wire guides and supplies of wire and traveling in circularpaths which extend through the annular cores upon which the wires arebeing wound. During the a loop during the its position farthest after ithas padded through the core. This loop is carried around and thensuddenly pulled tight on the core thereby subjecting the wire to asudden and abwhich is a limiting factor tent of increasing thecross-sectional area of the v coil by twenty or thirty per cent.

It is, of course, desirable to make these coils as small and compact aspossible and this is particularly true when they are to be used inmilitary communication systems where minimum volume and Weight are ofprimary importance.

The sizeof a coil of given electrical constants is largely determined bythe diameter of" the wire used and the size of central aperture of thefinished coil. The aperture cannot be reduced A. W. G. in posed on itAttempts order to withstand the tension imwhen the loops are tightened.have been made to control the loops them between spring-backed platesbefore the as applicant is aware, none of these expedients have beensuccessful in eliminating either the overlapping of the turns or thehigh tension produced when In the winding machine o'f this invention, ashuttle carrying a supply of the wire to be wound on a core is driven atconstant speed and a flyer for guiding the'wire from the shuttle aroundthe core is driven by means the loops are tightened on the core.

ing action on the wire wire passes to the core, but insofar underconstant tension so that the formation of loops or anyslack which couldresult in jerk- ,or overlapping of the turns is effectively prevented.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fiyer is driven by compressedair around a stationary track and Alternatively, the flyer may befrictionally supported on the track and the track driven at a higherspeed than the shuttle to apply to the flyer a constant acceleratingequivalent of that obtained in above construov tion by pneumatic means.

With either of these constructions, the elimiused heretofore and theelimination of the loops and the overlapped turns. The use of finerwires reduces the size of the coil not only because of the reduced bulkof the winding itself, but also because the resulting thinner windnglayer per- Other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing detailed, description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side .elevationalview of a toroidal coil windingimachine constituting one species of theinvention, portions thereof being broken away:

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1with other portions, including the shuttle, removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational of the machine, portions away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken along the line 5-5of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of another species of theinvention illustrating the flyer, its track and the driving meanstherefor;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the open thereof being broken forcewhich is the of given constants which view of the other side shuttle forthe species shown in Fig. 8 and the driving means therefor; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of this species.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Figs. 1 to5, inclusive. In this embodiment oi the invention, a housing ll has anopening ll near its center which extends cutwardly at II to allowsufilcient space for the anthe core. A supply of the wire I! is woundupon an open shuttle ll, which is of'the cross-section- 1 al contourillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 so that it will pas through the center ofthe core. The shuttle I8 is described as being open due to the provisionof an open portion 2a of suflicient size to allow for the mounting oithe'core It in the chuck l6 prior to the winding of the wire thereon andfor the removal 0! the wound core from the chuck.

The inner periphery of the shuttle is is provided with teeth 2| whichinterengage teeth 22 of pinions 2%, 2i, 2! and 2'. The pinions 23 and 24are driven by a pinion 21 as illustrated. The teeth of the pinions 23 to26,, inclusive, are positioned between disc-like guide members 29 and 30of the pinions, the guide members serving to straddle the teeth 21 ofthe shuttle at their spaced position? to maintain the shuttle in a givenposition during its travel guide member 80 of each pinion also serves tosupport the shuttle due to the fact that a shoulder ii of the shuttlerests upontheperipheries of each of these guide members. If desired, theshuttle may be provided with a frictional drive through its contact withone or both of the guide members 29 and 30 of the pinions 23 to 28, in-'clusive. In may be driven by the pinion 21, or, if desired, all fourpinions 23 to 20, inclusive, may be driven thereby. the driving forcebeing transferred from the intermediate pinions through the frictionalengagement of their guide members 1 with the shuttle. Shafts 33 to 31,inclusive, are provided for the pinions 23 to 21, inclusive, the shaft31 being driven by suitable power means (not shown).

The housing III has a compartment l0 which extends in an incompletecircle about the opening H as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. A supply ina circular path. The

this instance. the pinions 23 and 21 line 4|, for supplying a fluid suchas air under pressure to the compartment 10, may be connected to anysuitable supply such as a variable delivery pump 42 under the control ofa valve 43 to supply the compartment with fluid or air under variablepressures. A circular arrangement of exhaust ports 44 provideconnections between the compartment 40 and a chamber 45. This circulararrangement or exhaust ports will direct jets of air in directions todrive a flyer 8 in a counterclockwise direction. ExhaustEports I! openthe chamber to the atmosphere at numerous points.

The flyer includes an arcuate member I! slidably mounted in groovedtracks Ill in the housing ill. These tracks 50 are formed in the housingin opposite walls of an annular passageway ill which extends in anincomplete circle for the flyer. A movable se ment or element 53 groovedas at N to receive the flyer completes the circular 4 track tor theflyer at the open portion II of the housing. One end of the segment 53is pivoted at 5! while the other end is removably held in position by aspring pressed plunger i8. When the segment is in its open position, thecore ll may tlis inserted in place and removed from the chuck Returningto the detailed structure of the flyer, it will be noted that cup shapedmembers 50. mounted at spaced positions upon the'member 48, providepockets forthe jets'oi air, to facilitate in the acceleration of theflyer in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2). A guide ismounted upon the opposite side of the member 49 and extends over theshuttle as illustrated in Fig. 5. Through the aid of the guide 60,particularly a groove 8| therein, the wire is free to pass from theshuttle and arou d a sheave 82. The sheave 62 may be sup d byanti-iriction bearings -'or other suitable means on the flyer member N.

In preparing this species of the invention for operation, the auxiliarytrack section 53 is released irom the plunger 58 and moved outwardlyabout its pivot 55 for the mounting of a core ll in the chuck it. Thetrack portion is then returned to its closed position as shown in Fi 2.

At this time. or prior to the mounting of the core in the chuck, theshuttle i8 is provided with a supply of the wire l5 by rotation of theshuttle in a clockwise direction. The free end of the wire it is thenthreaded from the shuttle, through the groove Win the guide 60, aroundthe sheave 62 and is secured in any suitable manner to the core It. Themachine is now, ready for operation. The valve 43 is opened to directair under pressure into the compartment 40 and from the compartmentthrough the exhaust ports 44 in directions to cause acceleration of theflyer 48 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2). At this time, theshuttle i8 is driven at a constant rate of speed in the same direction.The force of the air under pressure applies an accelerating force to theflyer tending to accelerate the flyer at a speed many times the speed ofrotation of the shuttle. The force applied to the flyer is of a flexiblenature, however, so that the movement of the flyer will be under thecontrol of the wire l5. Furthermore, by applying a constant force to theflyer with the jets of air, a constant tension is created in the wire.Furthermore, the application of the constant tension to the wireeliminates the formation of any slack or loop in the wire which mightotherwise result in jerking oi the wire as each turn on the core iscompleted. By applying a constant tension on the wire and guiding thewire in its entire movement about the core in forming each turn. it isnot possible for the wire to whip to one side or, the other to causeover- 00 laying of the turns. but instead the turns are laid uniformly.

The species of the invention shown in Figs. 6 through 8, inclusive,embodies an open shuttle 10 identical in structure to the shuttle II andprovided with a similar driving means. The driving means in thisinstance includes a drive gear ll, driven gears I2 and I3 and idlergears 14 and 15. If desired, the gears ll and 15 may also be driven. Theteeth of the gears 12 and 13 inter engage teeth 16 mounted at the innerperiphery of the shuttle. -The gears I2 to I5, inclusive, are

the center of a core so. The shuttle is formed with a 'that the gears88, 88, 8| and which rests upon the outer peripheriesof the members I8of the gears I2 to II, inclusive. If desired, the gears -I 2 to II,inclusiv may function to provide a frictional drive for the shuttle,through the members I8 and the shoulder 8| of the shuttle, in place ofthe positive connection of the teeth I8 of the shuttle and the teeth ofthe gears.

This species of the invention is also similar to the species shown inFigs. 1 to 5, inclusive, in that a continuous track 83 is provided forthe flyer 84 with a removable segment 88 to facilitate in the mountingof the core 88 in its chuck 88.

- The difference lies in the detailed structure of the flyer and in thefact that the track is driven at a velocity many times that of theshuttle to apply a driving force to the flyer 84 which is similar to theforce applied'to the flyer 48 by the Jets of air. The driving means forthe track 88 in this instance is similar to the driving means for theshuttle. A driving gear 81 drives-gears 88 and 89 to drive the track,the latter including the segment 85 having teeth 88 formed on the innerperiphery thereof. Companion gears 8| and 82 assist the gears 88 and 89in supporting the track. 'If desired, the gears 8| and 82 may also bedriven. Furthermore, a frictional driving means may be provided betweenthe gears and the track as previously suggested regarding the shuttle.By viewing Fig. 8, it will be noted 82 are provided with guide members84 and 95 which serve to maintain the track and its segment for rotationin a given path which extends with the shuttle, substantially throughthe center of the core 88. Furthermore, shoulders 86 of the track andits segment rest upon the outer peripheries of members 95 to support thetrack in its desired position.

The flyer in this embodiment includes a guide 88 with a groove 98 toreceive the wire from the shuttle and direct it to a sheave I88. Theguide and the sheave are supported by the flyer 84 which rides inannular grooves I8I in the track 83 and the segment 85. The portion ofthe flyer at the right of the sheave I88 includes arcuate resilientmembers I82 which are initially forced toward each other to positionthem in their grooves. The legs or members I82 of theflyer thereforecreate frictional contacts with the walls of the grooves I8I so that thedriving force of the track will urge the flyer forwardly in acounterclockwise direction, its speed of movement beingvariable,'however, under the control of the wire I83.

During the operation of this species of the invention, the shuttle,holding the supply of wire, is driven at a constant rate of speed andthe track 83 is driven at a much faster rate of speed equivalent to orgreater than the speed necessary to cause the flyer to continuouslyapply a constant tension of a given value on the wire. During the travelof the flyer, particular interest being in the wire controlling endthereof, after it passes through the core and until it reaches thefarthest position from the core, a length of wire sufilcient for thenext turn on the core is withdrawn from the shuttle. At this time, theflyer is moving at approximately the same speed as the shuttle, althoughthe track is traveling at a higher velocity, the flyer being retarded bythe wire which is freed from the shuttle at the speed of travel of theshuttle. During the travel of the fiye'r from its position farthest fromthe core and until it again passes through the sumcient to rotate theflyer at the maximum g is made possible through. 01, the flyer with thetrack. to maintain the constant tension on the wire and speed desired.This the frictional contact guide it uniformly about the core..

Although specific understood that they are but illustrative and thatvarious modlflcationsmay be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

' What is claimed is: a

1. In a toroidal coil winding machine a support for an annular core onwhich a wire is to he wound, a circular shuttle for a supply of thewire,

means to'support the shuttle in a position at right angles to the corefor rotation in a circular path extending substantially through thecenter of the core and about a fixed axis, a flyer under the control ofthe wire to distribute the wire from the shuttle around the core, acontinuous track for the flyer spaced from the shuttle and extendf ingin a circular path through the core, and

a driving force for the flyer to drive the flyer at varying speeds underthe j.

and to apply a constant tenmeans for supplying control of the wire sionon the wire.

2. In a toroidal coil port for an annular core on which a wire is to bewound, an open shuttle having a supply of wire thereon,.means to supportthe shuttle in a position at right angles to the core for rotation in acircular path extending substantially through the center of the core andabout a fixed axis, a flyer underthe control of the wire to distributethe wire from the shuttle around the core, a continuous track for theflyer space from the shuttle and extending 'in a circular path throughthe core, and means for supplying a driving force for the flyer to drivethe flyer at varying speeds under apply a constant tension on the wire.

3. In a toroidal coil winding machine, a support for an annular core onwhich a wire is to be wound, an open partially circular shuttle having.a supply of wire thereon and a shoulder adjacent its inner periphe y.driving means for the shuttle including rotatable members engaging thesaid shoulder to support the shuttle and guide the shuttle in a the wireto distribute the wire from the shuttle around the core, a continuoustrack for the flyer spaced from the shuttle and extending in a circularpath through the core, and means for supplying a driving force for theflyer to drive the flyer at varying speeds under the control of the wireand to apply a constant tension on the wire.

4. In a toroidal coil winding machine, a support for an annular core onwhich a wire is to be wound, a circular shuttle for a supply of thewire, means to support the shuttle in a position at right angles to thecore for rotation in a circular path extending substantially through thecenter of the core and about a v control of the wire to distribute thewirefrom the shuttle around the core, a stationary circular track forthe flyer, and means to drive the flyer at variable speeds in a circularpath controlled embodiments of the inven- Men have been shown anddescribed, it will be winding machine. a supthe control of the wire andto circular path extending.- substantially through the center of thecore and about a fixed axis, a flyer under the control of fixed axis,.aflyer under the by the track to create a constant tension on 1 the'wireport for control of the wire to to drive the flyer at In antoroidal coilwinding machine, a supan'annular coreon which a wire is to be ,sion onthe wire.

6. In a toroidal coil winding machine, a sup-' port for an annular coreon which a wire is to be wound, a circular shuttle tor a supply 01 thewire, means to support the shuttle in a position at right angles to thecore ior rotation in a circul ar path extending substantially throughthe center oi the core and about a fixed axis, a flyer under the controlof the wire to distribute the wire from the shuttle around the core, astationary track for the flyer extending in a partially in circularshuttle for a supply ofthe.

circular path, a track segment mounted to extend through thescore and tocomplete the circular path for the i'lyer.

'7. In a toroidal coil winding machine, a support for an annular core'on which a wire is to be wound, a circular shuttle for a supply of thewire; means to support the shuttle in a position at right angles to thecore for rotation in a circuiar path extending substantially through thecenter of the core and about a fixed axis, a circular rotatable track ina circular path through the core, a flyer having resilient legssupported i'rictionally in the track and movable thereby under thecontrol of the wire to distribute the wire from the shuttle around thecore, and means to drive the track at a speed faster than the shuttle tocause the flyer to travel at a speed faster than the shuttle when movingtoward the core to maintain constant tension on the wire.

' ROBERT M. CONHJN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ilie ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Nickel Oct. 17, 1905 Number

